Category: Business

The idea of being self employed is often an appealing one. No boss hovering nearby while you work. No office politics that become divisive or horrific to work in. The added freedom of building a business based on your own goals and interests - it’s all very appealing and sounds excellent on paper, right? But is it actually easy?The honest answer isn't as straightforward as a yes or no unfortunately. It can be challenging and rewarding, frustrating and exhilarating all

First Abu Dhabi Bank has entered a strategic partnership with Water. org and WaterEquity, placing capital behind an impact fund aimed at expanding access to safe water and sanitation across emerging markets.The Abu Dhabi lender has invested in the WaterEquity Everspring Fund, an open-ended vehicle designed to channel private capital into financial institutions and enterprises that serve low-income households and small businesses needing affordable water and sanitation finance. The partnership makes FAB the first commercial financial institution in the Middle

Parcel-locker group InPost will invest a further €500 million in France by 2030, strengthening its out-of-home delivery network as e-commerce growth and consumer demand for flexible collection points reshape Europe’s parcel market.The commitment adds fresh weight to the expansion strategy of the Poland-based logistics company, which has been building France into one of its most important markets outside its home base. The investment is intended to support organic growth rather than acquisition-led expansion, with funds expected to go into lockers,

Dubai motorists will pay more to use toll gates and public parking from June 1, with Salik and Parkin applying 5 per cent value-added tax to their services under the UAE’s federal tax framework.The change will add VAT to Salik toll gate use and tag activation charges, while Parkin will apply the tax across its public parking services, including on-street and off-street parking, seasonal cards, permits and reservations. The amounts collected will be remitted to the Federal Tax Authority, making

Emirates NBD has extended a AED367.3 million loan facility to Luxembourg-based CPI Property Group, giving the European real estate investor funding cover for deferred payments on a portfolio of ultra-luxury residential units in Dubai through 2026 and 2027.The transaction, equivalent to about $100 million or €86 million, is secured against 19 high-end residences owned by CPI Property Group, including 15 units still under construction. The assets are spread across some of Dubai’s most expensive branded and waterfront addresses, including Bvlgari

Air Arabia’s first-quarter profit fell 22 per cent as regional conflict disrupted flying, closed airspace and forced temporary operational limits, even as the Sharjah-based low-cost carrier kept revenue broadly stable and filled a higher share of available seats.The carrier reported net profit of AED278 million for the three months ended 31 March 2026, down from AED355 million a year earlier. Turnover edged up 1 per cent to AED1.8 billion from AED1.779 billion, underlining the resilience of fares and ancillary revenue

Standard Chartered Capital Saudi Arabia has secured regulatory clearance to manage investments and operate funds in the kingdom, giving the London-listed banking group a wider platform in one of the Gulf’s fastest-expanding capital markets.The approval from the Capital Market Authority allows the company to run discretionary portfolios and establish investment funds under Saudi securities rules. The clearance follows completion of commencement-of-business requirements tied to an approval dated 5 May 2025, marking a formal step from authorisation to active operations in

UAE property developers are expected to keep construction programmes moving and meet debt obligations over the next 12 months, as strong cash reserves and positive operating cash flow provide a buffer against softer sales, wider payment plans and geopolitical uncertainty.Moody’s assessment points to a market under pressure but not in distress. Sales momentum has cooled as conflict across the Middle East unsettles investor sentiment, yet there is no evidence so far of a sharp freeze in demand. Developers have

Mubadala Investment Company and Tubacex Group have launched operations at their Abu Dhabi joint venture, bringing a specialised manufacturing platform for advanced Oil Country Tubular Goods into service as the UAE accelerates efforts to localise critical energy supply chains.The venture, operating under the TBX Nexxia brand, is focused on corrosion-resistant alloy tubular products used in demanding oil and gas infrastructure, particularly wells and production systems exposed to high pressure, high temperature and corrosive environments. The launch was announced during Make

 Dubai South is pressing ahead with its 2026 property delivery programme, signalling that long-term housing demand around Al Maktoum International Airport remains strong despite short-term regional uncertainty.The master-planned city and free zone has placed one of its largest residential construction packages of the year, awarding an AED2 billion contract to Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi & Sons for multiple phases of Hayat by Dubai South. The move keeps the developer’s flagship community on track for construction to begin in the second

Kuala Lumpur-based International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation has raised $1.475 billion through a US dollar-denominated short-term sukuk auction, marking its largest single issuance since its first auction in August 2013 and underscoring the continuing depth of demand for high-quality Islamic liquidity instruments.The auction was 2.07 times oversubscribed, with bids reaching $3.05 billion even as investors weighed geopolitical tensions, shifting expectations on US interest rates and uneven liquidity across global debt markets. The sale also marked the first time IILM offered

Dubai food group IFFCO is poised for provisional liquidation after months of debt restructuring talks failed to produce agreement, pushing a major Gulf consumer-goods business into a court-led process as creditors seek to protect assets and stabilise operations.A lender group led by HSBC Holdings has initiated legal proceedings to take control from the owners, with FTI Consulting nominated to act as provisional liquidator. The move follows a prolonged stand-off over roughly $2 billion in borrowings and marks a significant escalation

 UAE aviation fuel supply chains are set for tighter coordination after ENOC Group and Emirates Petroleum Company, Emarat, signed an agreement to build a joint business continuity planning framework for Jet A-1 operations.The memorandum of understanding is designed to protect fuel availability at key aviation hubs during operational disruption, supply pressure or logistics constraints. It sets out a structured mechanism for cooperation between the two energy companies, covering pipeline transfers, truck loading operations, fuel supply management and response procedures aimed

The QRNW Global Ranking of Transnational Universities 2027 has placed Swiss International University (SIU) in third position among all transnational universities worldwide. The recognition was awarded to the university because it operates extensive international programs while offering flexible academic options and worldwide educational access for all its students.The ranking reflects SIU’s continuous efforts to build an inclusive learning environment for students from diverse countries and backgrounds. The university increases its international presence through its dedication to cross-border education and development

Kingdom Holding Company has agreed to buy a 70% stake in Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, in a transaction that marks a new phase in the Kingdom’s football privatisation drive and puts one of the country’s highest-profile clubs under the control of Prince Al Waleed bin Talal’s investment group. The binding agreement, announced on Thursday, values Al Hilal at an implied enterprise value of 1.4 billion Saudi riyals, with an equity valuation of 1.2 billion riyals and

Bain Capital has opened an office in Abu Dhabi Global Market, expanding its Middle East presence as the private investment firm seeks closer ties with regional investors, broader support for portfolio companies and a stronger position in sectors that match Abu Dhabi’s economic agenda. The firm said the new base will focus on aviation, healthcare, digital infrastructure and financial technology, and will serve as a regional hub for deeper engagement across the Middle East. Bain Capital says it manages about

Al Habtoor Group said on 9 April it will invest more than AED 5 billion in a new commercial tower at Al Habtoor City on Sheikh Zayed Road, a move that adds fresh weight to Dubai’s office-led development pipeline at a time when demand for premium business space remains firm and developers are racing to capture it. The company described the scheme as a landmark addition to the city’s skyline and said it would be the first in a wider

DAMAC Properties said it led Dubai’s property market by transaction volume in March, reporting sales of 3.12 billion dirhams across 1,106 transactions, a performance that put it ahead of Emaar Properties on 795 deals and Binghatti Holding on 578, according to Property Monitor data cited by the developer. The figures place DAMAC at the front of one of the Gulf’s busiest real-estate markets at a time when investors are weighing strong local demand against a more complex regional backdrop.The

VAT filing errors are surprisingly common. Most aren't intentional—they're honest mistakes that happen because the rules are easy to misunderstand or because records are disorganized. The problem is that the tax authority doesn't distinguish between careless errors and intentional fraud. Getting proper VAT return filing in the UAE done right the first time saves money and stress. Missing or misfiled invoices The most frequent error is missing invoices. A business files their VAT return but forgets an invoice they received, so they

Starting a business in Dubai is exciting. Running it means managing finances, taxes, and compliance alongside everything else. Most small business owners aren't accountants. You need someone in your corner who is.The market for accounting services for small businesses in Dubai is crowded. Hundreds of firms compete for your business. Some are excellent. Others cut corners. Knowing what to look for saves you money and headaches. What your small business actually needs Your accounting service should cover four core areas: bookkeeping, tax

US-based Patel Family Office and Dammam-headquartered Abdel Hadi A. Al-Qahtani & Sons have signed a $1 billion agreement to build 50 business hotels across Saudi Arabia by 2029, betting that the Kingdom’s fast-growing corporate travel market now needs more standardised mid-market accommodation than luxury-led supply can offer. The partners said the platform, branded AYARA, was signed at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami and is expected to deliver between 5,000 and 7,000 rooms across major commercial centres and emerging development

Dubai-based Danube Group has said it will retain its full workforce and keep salary payments on schedule, with founder and chairman Rizwan Sajan telling staff the company will not resort to layoffs even as businesses across the Gulf navigate the strain of regional conflict, supply disruption and shakier investor sentiment. The assurance, carried in a public message from Sajan and echoed in local business coverage, applies to the group’s 6,000-plus employees.The pledge lands at a moment when corporate leaders

Mubadala Energy has tightened its grip on one of Southeast Asia’s most closely watched offshore gas provinces after winning the Southwest Andaman exploration Production Sharing Contract in Indonesia, a move that extends the Abu Dhabi-based company’s push to build scale in the country’s Andaman basin. The block was awarded by Indonesia’s oil and gas regulator, Direktorat Jenderal Minyak dan Gas Bumi, under the second bid round for 2025. Mubadala Energy will hold a 100 per cent participating interest and act

Blackstone has invested $250 million in an Abu Dhabi-based payments and data intelligence platform aimed at regulated digital markets, pressing ahead with a Gulf deal even as the war involving Iran continues to unsettle investors, energy markets and regional transport links. The investment in Advanced Digital Gaming Technology, or ADGT, marks what LSEG identified as the first private equity-backed inbound transaction in the Gulf since the conflict began on February 28.Funds managed by the alternative asset manager have backed

Emaar Properties has approved a dividend payout of AED8.8 billion following a strong financial performance for 2025, signalling confidence in its cash flows and long-term growth strategy.The decision was endorsed at the company’s annual general meeting, where shareholders backed a distribution equivalent to 100 per cent of capital. The approval underscores Emaar’s position as one of the Gulf’s most profitable real estate developers, supported by sustained demand in Dubai’s property market and a diversified portfolio spanning residential, retail and hospitality

Vision Hospitality, operator of the McGettigan’s pub brand, has agreed to acquire the Dubai-based leisure venue Bla Bla Dubai as part of a strategy to deepen its footprint in the UAE’s competitive food and beverage and entertainment sector.The deal, whose financial terms were not disclosed, will see the sprawling beachfront destination at Jumeirah Beach Residence rebranded as Bla Bla by McGettigan’s. The acquisition brings under Vision Hospitality’s umbrella a multi-concept venue that combines a beach club, restaurants, rooftop bars, karaoke

Elon Musk has been found by a jury to have misled Twitter investors during his 2022 takeover bid, concluding that his public statements about the social media platform contributed to financial harm for shareholders as he pursued a lower acquisition price.The verdict centres on claims that Musk, while negotiating the $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter, publicly criticised the company’s handling of spam and bot accounts in ways that were deemed misleading. Jurors determined that those statements influenced market perceptions

Meta Platforms is preparing to shut down the virtual reality version of Horizon Worlds by June, signalling a strategic shift toward mobile platforms as the company recalibrates its ambitions in immersive social experiences.The decision marks a notable retreat from one of Meta’s most visible metaverse projects, which had been positioned as a flagship social hub for users of its VR headsets. Horizon Worlds, launched with significant investment and promoted as a cornerstone of Meta’s long-term vision, struggled to achieve sustained

Capital from a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund has flowed into a Hong Kong-based private credit manager, signalling continued appetite among Gulf investors for property-linked lending opportunities across developed Asia-Pacific markets.Dignari Capital Partners said a wholly owned unit of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has committed capital to its Asia Pacific Developed Markets Private Credit Strategy, a fund designed to finance real-estate-related projects and businesses across the region. Financial terms were not disclosed, though the investment marks a

Saudi Aramco reported a decline in full-year net profit for 2025, reflecting the impact of lower crude oil and petrochemical prices on the world’s largest energy producer.The company posted net profit of $93.38 billion for the year, an 11.6 per cent fall compared with the previous year. The drop was driven primarily by weaker revenues linked to softer global energy prices and lower returns from chemical products, even as Aramco maintained large production volumes and continued supplying energy markets across

Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi has signed a 50-year land lease agreement with Galadari Brothers’ Heavy Equipment Division to develop a large-scale logistics and distribution hub at KEZAD A in Al Ma’mourah, marking another long-term industrial commitment within Abu Dhabi’s flagship manufacturing and trade zone.The agreement covers a 150,000 square metre plot and represents an investment of AED75 million by Galadari to establish a purpose-built facility for the storage and distribution of heavy machinery and industrial equipment. Construction is expected

Abu Dhabi recorded a sharp rise in new business licences during 2025, underscoring continued momentum in the emirate’s drive to broaden its non-oil economy and attract private investment.The Abu Dhabi Registration Authority, the regulatory arm of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said new economic licences climbed 29 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024. Renewed licences rose 20 per cent over the same period, while the number of active licences expanded by 13.5 per cent, reflecting sustained commercial

 AD Ports Group has increased its global network to 36 ports and terminals with the addition of Aqaba Multipurpose Port in Jordan, marking another step in the Abu Dhabi-based operator’s overseas expansion strategy.Ahmed Al Mutawa, Regional Chief Executive Officer of AD Ports Group, said the company’s footprint now stretches across the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Europe, covering the UAE, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Spain, Egypt, Tanzania, Angola, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He told the Emirates News

Emirates has signed an interline agreement with China’s Loong Air, widening its access to 22 additional destinations across the mainland and strengthening its competitive position in one of the world’s most strategically important aviation markets.The arrangement, effective immediately, enables Emirates passengers to connect beyond its existing gateways in Hangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong onto Loong Air-operated domestic services. The added cities span eastern, northeastern, southern, central and southwestern regions, broadening coverage in a country where international carriers are recalibrating capacity